Tentative Course Schedule
REL 103 (History and Literature of the Bible)
Spring 2005, 12:00-12:50pm Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Go to the History and Literature of the Bible main page.
Go to the Review Guides Page.

Exam Dates
 Chapter Response Due Dates (Extra Credit)
 Red Tent Essay Due Date (Extra Credit)
Exam One
Exam Two
Final Exam
 Psalm of the Hoopoe Bird
Voice of Gomer
In the Gymnasium
King of the Jews
 The Red Tent
Introduction
 Torah
 Former Prophets
 Latter Prophets
 Writings
 Deuterocanon
 Gospels
 Early Church
Date
Topic for Class Discussion
Reading Assignments (to be read before the day for which they are assigned).
Introductory Matters
Wednesday, January 12, 2004
Introduction to the Course 

The Literature of the Bible: 
A Quick Overview
 Because this is the first day of class, you were not expected to read anything before your arrived today. To see what you need to read before Friday, see the next cell below.
Friday 1/14
How should we read the Bible
[in an academic setting]?
 Harris, 1-13
Palmer, A Quick Overview of the Contents of the Bible"
Palmer, How should we read the Bible? A Perspective for an Informed Reading"
Video: Interpretation and Authority of the Bible (United Methodist Women's Division) [High-speed access] [28k or 56k dialup access]
Mon. 1/17
 Martin Luther King Day
No Classes
Wed. 1/19
 How should we read the Bible?
 You have no reading assignment today!
Fri. 1/21
Canonization
 Palmer, "Literary History of the Bible"  (Read only the section on Canonization.)
Video: Origin and Formation of the Bible and its Contemporary Use (United Methodist Women's Division) [High-speed access] [28k or 56k dialup access]
Mon. 1/24
Transmission of the Texts 

Translation(s) of the Bible
 Palmer, "Literary History of the Bible" (Read the section on Manuscripts and Transmission.)
Wed. 1/26
Translations (continued) 

Geography and History of the Ancient Near East

 Palmer, "Literary History of the Bible" (Read the section on Translation Theories and Translations of the Bible as well as the one on the Accuracy and Authority of the Biblical Texts.)
Palmer, "Israel and the Geography and History of the Ancient Near East" (Read the introduction and the section on geography.)
Fri. 1/28 More Geography and History of the Ancient Near East
Israel's Growing Understanding of God
 Palmer, ¨Israel and the Geography and History of the Ancient Near East¨ (Read the sections on the origins of Israel as well as the ones the major powers and the main periods of Israel´s history)
The topic "Israel's Growing Understanding of God will be covered only in class. If you miss this day, make sure you get a good set of notes from two of your classmates.

Torah
Mon. 1/31
Nature and Authorship of the Torah
 Palmer, "Authorship and Composition of the Torah" (PDF)
Wed. 2/2
Introduction to the Book of Genesis
Creation Stories
 Harris, 115-119
NRSV: Genesis 1-11 
Notice
From this point on you will need to bring a copy of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible with you to class every day.
Palmer, "Genesis" (Read sections I and II.)
Fri 2/4
Creation Stories
Stories of the Origins of Human Societies
 Harris, 117-119
 Palmer, "Genesis" (Read sections III and IV.)
Mon 2/7
Stories of the Ancestors of Israel
 Harris, 119-132
NRSV: Genesis 12; 16-22; 29-33; 37; 39
Wed. 2/9
More on Israel's Ancestor Stories
The Exodus
 Palmer, " The Exodus and Law Codes in the Torah"
(Exodus 1-19)
Fri 2/11
 The Mosaic Covenant
 Palmer, " The Exodus and Law Codes in the Torah"
(Exodus 20-40)
Mon 2/14
Exam One
The Former Prophets/
The Deuteronomistic History
Wed 2/16
Introduction to the Former Prophets
The Conquest/Settlement 
(Joshua and Judges)
 Palmer, "The Former Prophets" (Read sections I through IV.)
Fri 2/18
More on Joshua and Judges
The Beginnings of Monarchy

(1 Samuel)
 Palmer, "The Former Prophets" (Read sections V through VII.)
NRSV: Judges 13-16 (the story of Samson); 1 Samuel 1-3 (Hannah and the young Samuel)
Mon 2/21
The Reign of David
(2 Samuel)
 Palmer, "The Former Prophets" (Read section VIII.)
NRSV: 2 Samuel 7 (the Davidic Covenant), and 11-12 (David and Bathsheba)
Extra Credit Option: For up to 10 points in extra credit for the next exam, you may turn in a paper today on the chapter "Psalm of the Hoopoe Bird" from James Michener's novel, The Source. Your paper must follow the instructions for this chapter posted online under Chapter Response Assignment.
Wed 2/23
 More on the Reign of David
 NRSV: 2 Samuel 11—12 Read the story of David and Bathsheba again. This time, pay close attention to the way this story fits with the dominant themes of the books of Samuel. Be prepared to discuss this issue in class.
Fri 2/25
Solomon
(1 Kings 1-11)
The Divided Kingdom 
(First Kings 12-Second Kings 17)

 Palmer, "The Former Prophets" (Read section IX.)
NRSV: 1 Kings 3 (Solomon's wisdom); 6:1, 6:11-13 (Building of the Temple); 11-12 Solomon's  errors and the division of the kingdom); 16:21-34 (Omri and Ahab); 18:20-19:18 (Elisha and the Prophets of Baal)
Mon. 2/28
 More on the Divided Kingdom (922—721 BCE) NRSV: 2 Kings 9-10 (Jehu's purge); 17 (Fall of Israel to Assyria)
Wed 3/2
We're half way there!
The Judean Period 
(Second Kings 18-25)

 Palmer, "The Former Prophets" (Read section X.)
NRSV: 2 Kings 22-23 (Josiah's Reform); 24-25 (Fall of Judah to Babylon)
The Latter Prophets
Fri 3/4
Prophecy in Ancient Israel and Judah 
Prophets of the Eighth Century BCE 
(Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah of Jerusalem

 Harris, 204-209 and 210-223
Palmer, "Timeline of the Latter Prophets"
NRSV: Amos (all); Hosea (all)
3/7-3/11
 Spring Break
Mon 3/14
The Babylonian Crisis (Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah of the Exile, and Habakkuk)
 Harris, 223-246 (Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah) Notice that some of these books will not be covered in the class discussions. Make sure you have read what Harris has to say about them. Also, be sure you have reviewed the "Timeline of the Latter Prophets" carefully and can identify the correct historical period for each one of these prophets.
Extra Credit Option: For up to seven (7) points in extra credit you may submit a a paper on the chapter "The Voice of Gomer" from James Michener's novel, The Source. Click here to see the instructions for this assignment.
Wed 3/16
Prophecy after the Exile
 Harris, 246-254 (Post-exilic prophets)
Extra Credit Option: For up to 20 points in extra credit you may turn in your paper on Anita Diamant's novel, The Red Tent today. Your paper must follow the instructions for this assignment posted online under Reading Response Assignment.
The Writings
Fri 3/18
Introduction to the Writings 

Songs of Israel (Psalms, Song of Songs, Lamentations)
 Palmer, "The Writings: A Brief Introduction" (PDF) (Read sections I and II.)
Mon 3/21
Widsom Literature (Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes)
 Palmer, "The Writings: A Brief Introduction" (PDF) (Read section III.)
Wed 3/23
The Festival Scrolls 
(Ruth, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther) 
The Chronicler's History and the Persian Period

 Palmer, "The Writings: A Brief Introduction" (PDF) (Read sections IV and V.)
Friday 3/25 and Monday 3/28
 Easter Break
Deuterocanon/Apocrypha and the Rise of Hellenism
Wed 3/30
Alexander and Hellenism;
The Maccabean Revolt
(1 & 2 Maccabees, Daniel)
Note: Daniel is not a part of the Deuterocanon/Apocrypha. It is a part of the Hebrew Bible.
 Palmer, " Israel in the Hellenistic Age " (PDF) (Read sections I through VI)
Fri 4/1
 Exam Two
Extra Credit Option: You can earn up to 7 points in extra credit by reading the chapter entitled "In the Gymnasium" in James Michener's The Source and completing the Chapter Response Assignment posted online. You will need to turn in the assignment with your exam today.
You may find this extra credit assignment easier to do if you go ahead and read all of Israel in the Hellenistic Age (PDF) before writing your paper.

Mon 4/4
Hellenistic Culture and the Hasmonean and Herodian Periods
 Palmer, "Israel in the Hellenistic Age" (Read sections VII-IX.)
Wed 4/6
Greco-Roman Religions 

First-century Judaisms
 Harris, 368-383 (Early Judaisms)
Jesus and the Gospels
Fri 4/8
Introduction to the Gospels
 Harris, 387-411 (Introduction to the New Testament and the Gospels) Palmer, "The Gospels: Four Portraits of Jesus as the Christ" (Read sections I-III.)
Mon 4/11
Mark's Gospel
 Harris, 411-420 (Mark's Gospel)
NRSV, Mark's Gospel (all)		 Palmer, "The Gospels: Four Portraits of Jesus as the Christ" (Read section IV.)
Wed 4/13
Matthew's Gospel
 Harris, 420-434 (Matthew's Gospel) 
NRSV, Matthew 1-2; 5-7		 Palmer, "The Gospels: Four Portraits of Jesus as the Christ" (Read section V.)
Fri 4/15
More on Matthew's Gospel 

Introduction to Luke's Gospel
 Harris, 434-446
NRSV, Matthew 27-28; Luke 1-2; 24
Extra Credit Option: You may earn up to five points in extra credit for the Final Exam by reading the chapter entitled " King of the Jews" in James Michener's The Source and completing the Chapter Response Assignment posted online.
Palmer, "The Gospels: Four Portraits of Jesus as the Christ" (Read section VI.)
Mon 4/18
More on Luke's Gospel 

Introduction to John's Gospel
 Harris, 446-464
NRSV: Luke 10:25-37; 15-16; John 1-3		 Palmer, "The Gospels: Four Portraits of Jesus as the Christ" (Read section VII.)
Wed 4/20
More on John's Gospel
 Harris, 464-475
NRSV: John 11; 14; 21		 Palmer, "The Gospels: Four Portraits of Jesus as the Christ" (Read section VIII.)
Fri 4/22
Jesus of Nazareth and the "Historical Jesus"
 Harris, 476-510
The Early Church after Jesus
Mon 4/25
Acts of the Apostles
 Palmer, "Acts: the Struggle for an Unhindered Gospel" (PDF)
NRSV: Acts 1-11; 13-15
Class disscussions on Paul will highlight the treatment of women in the Pauline tradition. Most of what is covered in the assigned readings for the remainder of this week will not be discussed in class, but will be covered on the Final Exam. Make sure you have completed all of the online practice questions on Paul.
Wed 4/27
Paul and His Letters
 Palmer, "Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles" and
Harris, 538-549
NRSV: 1 Thessalonians (all); First Corinthinas 1-6; 7; 8; 13
Get an early start on todays readings. They are long.
Fri 4/29
More on the Letters of Paul
 NRSV: Romans 1:16-17; 12:1-1, 16:1-2; Philippians 2:1-13; Colossians 1:15-20
Your notes taken in class this week should cover all of the topics mentioned in this row.
Paul's views on women in the family and the church
 NRSV: Romans 16; Philippians 4:2-3; First Corinthians 7:1-16; 11:2-16; 14:26-36
Views on women's roles in the Deutero-pauline Letters
 NRSV: Ephesians 5:21-6:9; Colossians 3:18-4:1
Views on women's roles in the Pastoral Letters
 NRSV: 1 Timothy 2:9-15; 3:8-13; Titus 2:3-10
Internet Resources on Women in the Bible
Mon 5/2
The Revelation to John
 Harris, 592-604 
NRSV: Revelation 1-3

Harris, pages 575-587 on the General Epistles (Hebrews, James, First and Second Peter, and the three letters of John) will not be discussed in class, but a few questions on these pages will be included on the final exam. These questions will be based mostly on the ones in the online quizze on these letters and the book of Revelation.

Final Exam: Thursday, May 12, 6:00pm-9:00pm
You may download the complete exam schedule here (PDF file).
Academic calendars are available on the Registrar's links page.
Get the Review Guide for the Final Exam.

Go to the History and Literature of the Bible main page.